268 forestry Quarterly. 



and Forest Warden 'to enforce the laws of the State of Oregon 

 for the protection of forests.' However, the State Game and 

 Forest Wardens were appointed solely because of their knowl- 

 edge and interest in fish and game matters, and naturally they 

 devoted little, if any, of their time in enforcing the forest laws 

 then on the statutes. In 1907, the legislature passed a law 

 providing for a State Board of Forestry, thus for the first time 

 giving the State an organization charged exclusively with the 

 administration of the forestry laws. The two biennial reports 

 of the Board, covering the years 1907-1910, show that notwith- 

 standing the meager appropriation of $250 per annum, a great 

 amount of good was accomplished. The activities of the Board 

 resulted in the appointment of hundreds of fire wardens annually, 

 in acquainting citizens with the provisions of the forestry laws, 

 and in advocating in every way possible the protection of forests 

 from fire. 



"The importance of the forest resources in connection with the 

 industrial development of the State was recognized, when early 

 in 191 1 the present forestry law was enacted by the Twenty- 

 sixth Legislative Assembly. Tt provides for the appointment 

 of a State Forester, and carries an appropriation of $60,000 for 

 fire protection and investigative work for the present biennial 

 period." 



This quotation taken from the opening page explains the pres- 

 ent situation in State forestry. A statement that proposed changes 

 to the present law will be considered in the 191 2 report indicates 

 that further advance may be expected. 



The greater part of the report is devoted to fire protection. 

 Statistics are presented by counties, for both private and national 

 forests, showing the number and causes of forest fires, number 

 of burning permits issued, the area of merchantable timber, second 

 growth and cutover lands burned over, and the amount and value 

 of the timber destroyed. The expenditures for patrol fire fighting 

 and the number and names of the fire wardens are given. A 

 total of $202,607.98 was spent by all parties, including the United 

 States Forest Service, the State, counties, timber owners and the 

 federal government under the Weeks' Law. This expenditure 

 was divided as follows: $88,669.61 for patrol and $113,938.37 

 for fire fighting. 



